Self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive

1. A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive comprising:

a vehicle body;

a variable propelling power supply section for supplying forward drive power and reverse drive power to propelling drive wheels;

a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement;

a guide unit including a maximum forward speed guide member for defining a shift movement end of the handle unit determining a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed, and a neutral guide member for guiding the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position, wherein the guide unit is mounted to the vehicle body;

the maximum forward speed guide member comprising at least one opening for receiving at least one bolt so as to retain the maximum forward speed guide member in a fixed position;

the maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member being positionally adjustable independently of each other; and

the maximum forward speed guide member, after being positionally adjusted, remaining fixed in place with respect to the vehicle body via the bolt,

wherein at least one of:

the maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are slidable relative to one another when positionally adjusted and are disposed one above another after being positionally adjusted; and/or

the maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are slidable relative to a common surface of the vehicle body and overlie one another after being positionally adjusted.

2. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the handle unit and the guide unit are indirectly attached to the vehicle body through a housing for covering a proximal portion of the handle unit.

3. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are fixable to one another and to the vehicle body via the at least one bolt.

4. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises slots.

5. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first shift movement is movement oscillatable about a first pivotal axis and the second shift movement is movement oscillatable about a second pivotal axis, and wherein a first oscillation bracket member is fitted on the first pivotal axis while a second oscillation bracket member is fitted on the second pivotal axis and mounted on the first oscillation bracket member.

6. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a detent mechanism having a constantly-urged detent ball is disposed between the second oscillation bracket member and a shift lever oscillatable about the second pivotal axis.

7. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide unit further includes a shift guide portion for guiding the second shift movement, the shift guide portion being integrally formed with the neutral guide member.

8. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the maximum forward speed guide member is formed as a cross member extending in a direction transversely of the first direction and connected at opposite ends thereof to the vehicle body directly or indirectly through a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion being adjustable in fixing position to vary a position of the cross member in the first direction by elastic deformation of the cross member with the second connecting portion being connected.

9. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first connecting portion consists of a connecting element and a slot receiving therein the connecting element.

10. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guide unit further includes a maximum reverse speed guide member for defining an end of the second shift movement of the handle unit determining a maximum reverse speed.

11. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the neutral guide member is configured to provide an entire range of movement of the handle unit along the second shift movement.

12. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the handle unit can move along the second shift movement only between:

the neutral position defined as a starting position; and

a position determined by a neutral stop surface integrally formed on the neutral guide member.

13. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the maximum forward speed guide member comprises first and second projecting portions, and wherein the at least one opening comprises first and second openings.

14. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first opening is arranged on the first projecting portion and the second opening is arranged on the second projecting portion.

15. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the maximum forward speed guide member is a one-piece member and comprises a stop surface located between the first and second projecting portions.

16. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member slidably engage:

one another when positionally adjusted; or

the vehicle body when positionally adjusted.

17. A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive comprising:

a vehicle body;

a variable propelling power supply section for supplying forward drive power and reverse drive power to propelling drive wheels;

a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement;

a guide unit attachable to the vehicle body and comprising slidable members positioned one above the other; and

said slidable members comprising:

a maximum forward speed guide plate member configured to define a shift movement limit position that determines a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed; and

a neutral guide member configured to guide the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position,

wherein the maximum forward speed guide plate member and the neutral guide member are positionally adjustable independently of each other.

18. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the neutral guide member is a neutral guide plate member.

19. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the neutral guide member comprises:

a rectangular main section having fastener receiving slots; and

a second smaller section oriented at an angle relative to a planar surface of the rectangular main section.

20. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the rectangular main section includes an elongated slot defining the first shift movement along the first direction and the second smaller section includes an elongated slot defining the second shift movement of the handle unit and a neutral stop limiting movement of the handle unit along the second direction.

21. The self-propelling work vehicle as claimed in claim 17 , wherein:

the handle unit is movably guided by the neutral guide member:

from a reverse speed position to a forward speed position;

from a reverse speed position to the neutral position defined as a starting position;

from a forward speed position to the neutral position defined as a starting position;

from a maximum forward speed position to the neutral position defined as a starting position; and

from the neutral position defined as a starting position to a neutral stop position; and

the handle unit contacts the maximum forward speed guide plate member only in the maximum forward speed position.

22. A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive comprising:

a vehicle body;

a variable propelling power supply section for supplying forward drive power and reverse drive power to propelling drive wheels;

a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement;

a guide unit attachable to a portion of the vehicle body and comprising:

a maximum forward speed guide plate member configured to define a shift movement limit position that determines a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed, said maximum forward speed guide plate member having a mounting opening and being mounted to the portion so as to slide relative to the portion during positional adjustment; and

a neutral guide plate member configured to guide the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position, said neutral guide plate member having a mounting opening and being mounted to the portion so as to slide relative to the portion during positional adjustment,

wherein the maximum forward speed guide plate member and the neutral guide member are slidably positionally adjustable independently of each other.